Old, battered dog tags found in a cave in Saipan may solve the 70-year
old mystery of a Florida man.

A group of Japanese searchers found the fragments of dog tags
belonging to 31-year-old U.S. Army Private Bernard buried in a cave on the
Pacific island, the Sun Sentinel reports. Gavrin was reported missing in action
in 1944 during the battle of Saipan. His family, including his only surviving
relative, nephew David Rogers, 81, never knew what happened to him.

"I am the only living relative to have known my Uncle
Bernie," Rogers told the Sun Sentinel. "Words cannot do justice to the shock
this news left me with."

The family, who lived in Brooklyn, was told Gavrin
disappeared sometime between June 15 and July 9, 1944 during the invasion of
Saipan, a part of the Mariana Island that was used as a fortress for about
30,000 Japanese soldiers. His family assumed he drowned during the early stages
of the invasion and thought his body was lost.

"Now we know that wasn't the case," Rogers said.

The Japanese searchers found Gavrin's dog tags in a mass
grave with several other remains and identification from up to two other American
soldiers. They were able to trace Gavrin's dog tag to his family. The Japanese
researchers, part of the Kuentai Group, delivered the news personally to Rogers
and other family members.

The remains were turned over to the Joint POW/MIA Accounting
Command in Hawaii for genetic testing. Rogers said if the remains are
identified, they will be buried during a military funeral at Arlington Cemetery
in Washington.